 | First Glimpse
Ruby Princess, a sister ship to Crown Princess and Emerald Princess, will debut on November 8. Celebrity couple Trista and Ryan Sutter, who found love on television's "The Bachelorette," have the honor of christening the ship in Ft. Lauderdale on November 6 (a two-night pre-inaugural cruise will follow). Ruby Princess will spend its maiden season cruising the Western Caribbean roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale. The seven-night voyages will call at Jamaica's Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Princess Cays, Princess' private Bahamian island. The 113,000-ton, 3,080-passenger ship will feature its siblings' signature touches such as a piazza-style atrium that's encircled by a coffee bar/bakery and wine bar; the Crown Grill steak and seafood restaurant; and The Sanctuary, an outdoor, adult-only lounging area. Ruby Princess will also feature Princess' most famous innovations, such as its expansive Lotus Spa, Movies Under the Stars, and Personal Choice Dining. Princess is also introducing several new dining options and entertainment programs aboard Ruby Princess (many which will be rolled out fleetwide once the ship launches). New dining options include: Wheelhouse Bar Pub Lunch: The Wheelhouse Bar will serve a pub lunch from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. on sea days. Menu items will include bangers & mash, fish and chips, cottage pie and a selection of beers. There will not be an additional charge to dine in the Wheelhouse Bar. Sabatini's Breakfast for Suite Passengers: Suite passengers will have exclusive access to breakfast served at Sabatini's. The alternative restaurant will trade its usual Italian-inspired menu for breakfast specialties, such as brioche French toast, yogurt and granola parfaits, and Belgian waffles. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 until 10:30 a.m. Artisan Cheeses at Vines: Vines, a bar in the ship's atrium, will serve up domestic and imported cheeses, in addition to wines by the glass and seafood appetizers. The cheese selections are available for a fee. Other Dining Enhancements: Additional dining upgrades include waffle stations and complimentary lemonade at the Horizon Court buffet. During the evening, canapes will be served in various lounges. New entertainment options include: Enrichment Programs: New ScholarShip@Sea programs include the Art of Entertaining party-planning seminars, Navigation@Sea classes about routing cruise ships, Mixology@Sea bartending courses, Astronomy@Sea telescope-viewing sessions, and Art History@Sea hour-long presentations about 500 years of art. Production Shows: Two new production shows include "Broadway Ballroom," which mixes favorite tunes from musicals with a variety of dance styles, and "Once Upon a Dream," which employs cinematic special effects to create a dreamlike atmosphere. Audience Participation Events: Passengers will provide the entertainment in numerous new participatory events, such as "Love Boat Legends" (Karaoke), "So You Wanna Be A Rock Star?" (singing with a live band), "Oceans of Talent" (passenger talent show) and "The Wake Up Show" (an at-sea talk show). Kids' Programs: The California Science Center presents the Wizards Academy, which lets kids do hands-on projects that connect science and magic. In addition, a variety of Klutz arts and crafts projects will be available onboard. Ultimate ShipTour: Passengers can take a tour of behind-the-scenes areas of the ship, such as the engine control room, photo lab, funnel and bridge. Other enhancements include more wireless hotspots throughout the ship and in cabins, as well as new cell phone connectivity, which will allow cruise travelers to use their personal cell phones onboard if they have international roaming plans. Plus, Princess passengers will now receive chilled face cloths when they return to the ship from a day ashore, and special misting stewards will help poolside sunbathers cool off with refreshing spritzes of Evian water. --by Erica Silverstein, Associate Editor | |
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